Devices for imparting a scanning motion to mirrors and the like

ABSTRACT

A motorized mirror, camera or other security device for scanning a comprehensive area of a store is slidably mounted on a curved stem. The angular attitude of the device can be adjusted over an infinitely variable range by adjusting its position on the stem.

'United States Patent 1191 Swales [45] Nov. 4, 1975 DEVICES FOR IMPARTING A SCANNING MOTION TO MIRRORS AND THE LIKE [56] References Cited [76] Inventor: Staveley Graham Anderson Swales, UNITED STATES PATENTS Herons Close Espley, near 3,199,075 8/1965 Simmons 350/289 Norpeth, Northumberland, England FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 23,952 1/1900 United Kingdom 350/299 [22] Filed: tMay 17, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 470,976 Primary ExaminerA1fred E. Smith Assistant Examiner-Michael J. Tokar Related Apphcanon Data Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Norris & Bateman [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 280,406, Aug. 14, 1972,

d. abandme 57 ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data A motorized mirror, camera or other security device Mar. 16, 1972 United Kingdom 12285/72 for Scanning a comprehensive area of a Store is slid May 5, 1972 United Kingdom 21177/72 ably mounted on a Curved Stem- The angular attitude of the device can be adjusted over an infinitely vari- 52 US. Cl 350/289; 350 7 able range by adjusting its Position on the Stem- [51] Int. CI.2 G02B 5/08 7 Cl 2 D F [58] Field of Search 350/6, 7, 99, 285, 289, rawmg gums US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 DEVICES FOR IMIARTING A SCANNING MOTION TO MIRRORS AND THE LIKE This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 280,406, filed Aug. 14, 1972 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In shops and stores it has become common practice for security purposes to mount mirrors, cameras and similar apparatus or instruments, referred to hereinafter as scanning members, in positions where they can view or scan a comprehensive area of the store.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a motorized means for mounting a scanning member which not only imparts oscillatory or gyratory motion to the member so causing it to sweep or scan a larger area of the store than would a stationary member, but also providing a wide degree of adjustment of the mem' ber on its support so rendering it adaptable to a wide range of operating conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides an upwardly (or downwardly) curved stem on which the scanning member may be fixed at a selected position, to obtain the desired vertical inclination. The stem is mounted for oscillatory or gyratory rotation about a vertical axis and is connected to an electric motor to provide said rotation.

It is possible to achieve improved adjustability by mounting the scanning member on a collar which slides along and rotates about the stem and by providing locking means to fix the collar at a desired position relative to the stem.

The locking means can conveniently take the form of a threaded locking member fixed with respect to the scanning member and received in a threaded hole in the collar so that it may engage the stem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a wall bracket constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention used to mount a circular mirror; and

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal cross-section through the bracket shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring firstly to FIG. 1 there is shown a circular mirror I fixed by means of a mounting plate 2 to a threaded locking member 3 which fits into a corresponding threaded hole in collar 4 constituting a mounting member.

The collar 4 can slide along and rotate about a stem 5 which is curved in a vertical plane as shown and can be fixed in any desired position on the stem by turning the mirror 1 in a clockwise direction to force the locking member 3 against the stem 5. It will be readily apparent that the mirror is thus allowed universal angular adjustment.

The curved stem 5 has a straight portion which ex tends through a horizontal slot 6 into a housing 7 constituting part of a wall bracket 8. The housing 7 takes the form ofa sheet metal channel part 9 and a cover 10.

Turning now to FIG. 2 the stem Sis welded to a hori- Zontal disc 11 mounted for rotation by a vertical axle 12. The axle 12 is set in bearings 13 and 14 and is connected for rotation by a motor 15 mounted on a plate 16 fixed by screws 17 to two flanges 18 welded to the sides of the channel part 9 of the housing 7. The edge of the disc 11 is aligned with a thumbscrew 19 which can be tightened to prevent damage to the moving parts and bearings when the mirror 1 is being tightened or adjusted on the curved stem 5.

Two vertical pins 20, only one of which is shown, are fitted in corresponding sockets around the periphery of the disc 11 and, in use, these pins 20 engage in a man ner which will be described an actuating lever 21 of a microswitch 22 connected through ajunction box 23 to the motor 15 through a pull-cord switch 24.

In operation the motor drives the disc 11 in one direction until one of the pins 20 engages the lever 21 of the microswitch 22 and this has the effect of reversing the motor which then proceeds to rotate the disc in the opposite direction until the other pin 20 engages the lever 21 whereupon the process is repeated indefinitely causing the mirror to move in an oscillatory motion.

For purposes of adjustment a plurality of sockets are provided for pins around the periphery of disc 11 so that by fixing such pins in different sockets a variable amplitude of mirror motion can be obtained.

It is pointed out that various other changes in the shape and arrangement of parts may be made to the embodiment of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims. For example the method of driving the motorised bracket could include a motor driving a shaft to which a cranked stem is attached or alternatively a driving means employing friction wheels, gear wheels, chain drives etc. could be employed.

1 claim:

1. A mounting for imparting arcuate motion to a scanning member comprising: a stem which has a portion curved within a plane to define a concave side on said curved stem portion and a convex side on said curved stem portion, said stem having an essentially straight, base portion mounted for rotation about an axis substantially at a right angle to said straight base portion with the concave side of said curved portion facing the axis; an adjustable mounting member having means for supporting a scanning member on the convex side of said curved portion and being mounted for slidable displacement along and rotation about said curved stern portion whereby a scanning member carried by said stem may be universally adjusted; means for locking said mounting member in adjusted position on the stern; and a motor connected to rock said straight, base stem portion about said axis, through a plane essentially normal to said axis.

2. The mounting defined in claim 1, wherein said scanning member supporting means comprises said locking means.

3. A mounting according to claim 1 wherein said mounting member constitutes a collar surrounding said curved stem portion and has a threaded hole; wherein said mounting includes a threaded locking member received in said hole and engaging the stem; and wherein said locking member is the means for supporting said scanning member.

4. A mounting according to claim 3 wherein said locking member is fixed relative to said scanning member.

5. A mounting according to claim 1 wherein said motor is in circuit with a reversing switch actuated by mechanism driven by the motor whereby said motor is 4 disc connected to be rotated by the motor, two pins spaced around the periphery of the disc, said reversing switch being a microswitch adapted to reverse the current applied to the motor, and actuating means for said microswitch located between the pins, whereby rotation of said disc in either direction leads to engagement of said actuating means by one of said pins and consequent reversal of the motor. 

1. A mounting for imparting arcuate motion to a scanning member comprising: a stem which has a portion curved within a plane to define a concave side on said curved stem portion and a convex side on said curved stem portion, said stem having an essentially straight, base portion mounted for rotation about an axis substantially at a right angle to said straight base portion with the concave side of said curved portion facing the axis; an adjustable mounting member having means for supporting a scanning member on the convex side of said curved portion and being mounted for slidable displacement along and rotation about said curved stem portion whereby a scanning member carried by said stem may be universally adjusted; means for locking said mounting member in adjusted position on the stem; and a motor connected to rock said straight, base stem portion about said axis, through a plane essentially normal to said axis.
 2. The mounting defined in claim 1, wherein said scanning member supporting means comprises said locking means.
 3. A mounting according to claim 1 wherein said mounting member constitutes a collar surrounding said curved stem portion and has a threaded hole; wherein said mounting includes a threaded locking member received in said hole and engaging the stem; and wherein said locking member is the means for supporting said scanning member.
 4. A mounting according to claim 3 wherein said locking member is fixed relative to said scanning member.
 5. A mounting according to claim 1 wherein said motor is in circuit with a reversing switch actuated by mechanism driven by the motor whereby said motor is adapted to impart a reciprocating rocking movement to the stem base portion about said axis.
 6. A mounting according to claim 1 comprising a housing wherein said stem base portion is rockably mounted and extends through a horizontal slot in the housing wall with said curved portion outside the housing.
 7. A mounting according to claim 5 wherein said motor is a reversible motor, said mounting including a disc connected to be rotated by the motor, two pins spaced around the periphery of the disc, said reversing switch being a microswitch adapted to reverse the current applied to the motor, and actuating means for said microswitch located between the pins, whereby rotation of said disc in either direction leads to engagement of said actuating means by one of said pins and consequent reversal of the motor. 